National Anthem Protests: How Should Educational Institutions Respond?

Picture this scenario at your school: parents, students, and fans fill the stands on the night of the big game. The marching band takes the field, but as it begins to play the national anthem, the football team's star player drops to one knee – similar to the recent actions by multiple professional sports figures – leaving district or university administrators scrambling to determine the appropriate response.

Until recently, such a situation seemed unlikely to occur on a widespread scale, but it may become a new norm during this school year. This form of protest could put schools and universities at the forefront of an unusual confluence of the law, politics, and unwanted publicity.